“We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith…This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.”

First Reading: Genesis 2:18-24

Psalm: 128

Second Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11

Gospel: Mark 10:2-16

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

Genesis 2:8-24

“…The Book of Genesis indicates moreover that the human being was not created in isolation but within a context, an integral part of which are those living spaces that ensure his freedom (the garden), various possibilities for food (the trees of the garden), work (the command to cultivate) and above all community (the gift of someone who is like himself)…Throughout the Old Testament, the conditions that ensure the fullness of human life are the object of a divine blessing. God wants to guarantee that man has what is necessary for his growth, freedom of self-expression, success in his work and a wealth of human relationships.”

Genesis 2:19-20

“…The Book of Genesis teaches that human dominion over the world consists in naming things. In giving things their names, man must recognize them for what they are and establish with each of them a relationship of responsibility.”, 113

Psalm 128:6

“…Thekingdom of the Messiah is precisely the kingdom of peace…, 491

Reflection

Created from one origin, we should not be ashamed to call anyone our brother and sister. This perspective requires us to heed Jesus’ call to accept the kingdom of God like a child. A mind directed by inquisitive thoughts, a spontaneous agenda lead by the Spirit and welcoming hospitality for everyone to dine at the table. For that is the demeanor receptive to the embrace and blessing of Jesus permeating our handiworks. Then we reap the fruits of not possessing and dominating, but seeing our relationship to all creation. May the Lord bless us to live in His kingdom – not a kingdom of our own design—all the days of our lives and peace will be upon our lives.

Reflection for St Francis Memorial October 4, 2012

St Francis robed himself in excess, only to find that lifestyle lacked authenticity. Whether he fought for power or lived in the echelons of the elite, emptiness prevailed. Only in embracing simplicity, each petal of creation to the marginalized living outside the walls of society’s acceptance, was he able to unravel the door to his soul absorbed in the radiance of peace, hospitality and compassion. The embrace of simplicity –found in the ordinary — changed St Francis from dwelling on himself, to the needs of others. How can we journey in the footsteps of St Francis and shed one selfish attitude or possession? Will we stop gazing in the mirror of self- absorption and lock our sight on the defilement of creation, leading to action? In faith, will we venture to tame wolves of mistrust in challenging dialogue?

St Francis, thank you for being our mentor. Pray for us.

Collect Memorial for St Francis: “O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and through joyful charity, come to be united with you…”

Prayer

Lord, dispel arrogance and install humble, childlike sincerity in our hearts to accept your kingdom. May we not divorce ourselves from the world, but affirm the interrelationships of all God’s creation.

Individual Reflection Psalm 128

Visit the blog, for the Creation Sustainability Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles:

csmresources.wordpress.com

In the spirit of the St Francis Pledge, select activities to pray, learn, assess, act and advocate in caring for God’s creation.

Family Reflection: Mark 10:2-16

Have family discussion time, where the children share perspectives on their image of God and faith in Jesus.

Involvement Opportunities

List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites

By Barb Born Sept 2012 The reflections may be used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for discussion groups without copyright concerns.

“…Work is more than a way of making a living, it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected – the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages … and to economic initiative.”

Readings

First Reading: Numbers 11:25-29

Psalm: 19

Second Reading: James 5:1-6

Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-8

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

James 5:1-6

“The Church’s love for the poor is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, by the poverty of Jesus and by his attention to the poor. The love concerns material poverty and also the numerous forms of cultural and religious poverty…Love for the poor is certainly incompatible with immoderate love of riches or their selfish use.” Paragraph 184

James 5:4

“… St James defends the trampled rights of workers…Believers are to undertake their work in the style of Christ and make it an occasion for Christian witness, commanding the respect of outsiders.” Paragraph 264

“Remuneration is the most important means for achieving justice in work relationships. The just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. They commit grave injustice who refuse to pay a just wage or who do not give it in due time and in proportion to work done…” Paragraph 302

Reflection

What is your testimony? Is your life self-serving or serving others? Do your workplace ethics reflect your faith or do you leave faith in the pew only to rejoin the journey the following week? Do you accept the joy of the Lord at each Eucharistic feast or do you process the procession in robo mode – just going through Mass and life with mechanical repetitiveness? Wherever we are camped in life, the Spirit rests in our hearts, not to be hidden, but shared in simplistic wisdom. The effervescence of joy dislodges corrosion of greed and exploitation to not condemn others as factors of production or murder their opportunity for a just and living wage — and in the process condemn the precepts of the Righteous One.

Prayer

Lord, restrain us from attitudes that corrode our hearts. Grant us the courage to live refreshed with your joy.

Individual Reflection: James 5:1-6

To learn more about global hunger and involvement opportunities to become an advocate for people in poverty, check the resources about Bread for the World Sunday at www.bread.org

“…As his disciples are discussing with one another who is the greatest, Jesus teaches them that they must make themselves least and the servants of all…” paragraph 379

James 3:18

“…peace is the fruit of justice…peace is the fruit of solidarity…” paragraph 102

“…If peace is the fruit of justice, today one could say with the same exactness and the same power of biblical inspiration…peace is the fruit of solidarity…” paragraph 203

Reflection

The Lord upholds our life, but do we squirm and totter to unbalance ourselves from the place of spiritual stability? Can our desires and actions to grab for mirages of selfish ambition falter our equilibrium? Does our passion for justice, formed in concrete pillars of singular issues, cause verbal wars of superiority to kill any essence of unity and solidarity of purpose? Can we ask how all Catholic Social Teaching upholds life? Let us soften divisions, so branches of solidarity provide a cohesive network, bearing in sincerity, peaceful, gentle and merciful good fruits. In promoting a cause, we should not wage verbal war on other people or ideologies in jealousy or feeling of superiority for our position. For when Jesus asks us why are we arguing about who has the greatest cause, the deafening silence pierces our hearts, to step back and examine our actions. To be a servant means to sit down, in solidarity invite all in your midst to join you in seeking out the vulnerable, marginalized and insecure one at a time —then embrace them, uphold them as the Lord upholds you

Prayer

Lord, only when we let You uphold us can we let the experience transform us to be servants. Help us always find this peace to bear fruit for You and the One who sent You.

Individual Reflection: Psalm 54

Learn about the new DVD focused on American poverty—available in early October— The Line

Visit the website: thelinemovie.com

How does this DVD change your perception of people impacted by poverty?

Family Reflection: James 3:16 -4:3

Talk about how something you covet creates a conflict.

What can you do to alleviate the conflict?

Involvement Opportunities

List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites

By Barb Born September 2012 The reflection may be used for parish bulletins, newsletters or for discussion groups without copyright concerns.

Each liturgical season, we plan to offer resources and a bulletin announcement for individuals and parishes to integrate the St Francis Pledge into their lives and see the relevance of caring for God’s creation as a precept of faith.

PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.

Individuals: Prayerfully, live simply one day in your food, transportation and consumer decisions. Reflecting on the day, select one lifestyle change that your will integrate into your life, on a permanent basis, to live more simply.

Parishes: Schedule a Mass or prayer service to celebrate St Francis during October (October 4th is the memorial day) Highlight his life attuned to creation and marginalized in society. Afterwards, host a reception serving locally grown food with sustainable utensils, plates and cups. Invite several local outreach organization that help raise awareness to preserve creation and empower the marginalized in your community, so your parish can network with them.

At Sunday Masses near October 4th, ask that music reflecting St Francis’ message be included in the liturgy, such as Sacred Creation or Canticle of the Sun.

Children: At Sunday Masses on October 7th, ask children to bring their favorite stuffed animal to carry in the entrance procession and place at the base of the altar in thanksgiving for God’s gifts of creation, in the spirit of St Francis. It also reflects the first reading from Genesis, “…God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them…”

LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change and our responsibility towards God’s creation.

Assess your relationship to creation and use of resources in the context of his comments.

ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the way we contribute to degradation of the world.

At your home and parish show the DVD, Sun Comes Up, on climate change in the South Pacific and the lifestyle changes residents’ face in relocating. View a preview of the DVD on the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change website: catholicclimatecovenant.org

After viewing the DVD discuss what actions you can take to minimize your carbon foot print to decrease the impact of global warming.

ADVOCATE for Catholic principles in climate change and creation sustainability discussions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.

Host a letter writing evening, asking restaurants, businesses and corporation to use eco-friendly packaging and decrease dependence on plastic. Research facts to include in the letters and share your thoughts on the need for consumers and businesses to work together for the common good in caring for creation. Some examples might be asking retailers to sell refill cartridges for pens, instead of disposing of the whole pen when only the ink cartridge needs replacement. Restaurants might be asked to use eco- friendly cartons to dispense food. Grocery stores could be encouraged to provide more food selections in bulk bins to reduce excess packaging.

If you live in a neighborhood where numerous advertisements are distributed on your porch, put a sign on your door asking that advertising materials are not left. When you get unwanted advertising in the mail, contact the company and ask that your name be removed from the mailing list. Let them know you are concerned about the inability of most advertising material to be recycled.

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT: ST FRANCIS MEMORIAL OCTOBER 4, 2012

St Francis robed himself in excess, only to find that lifestyle lacked authenticity. Whether he fought for power or lived in the echelons of the elite, emptiness prevailed. In embracing simplicity, each petal of creation to the marginalized living outside the walls of society’s acceptance, was he able to unravel the door to his soul. Removing the clutter of excess possessions, elitist mentality and indifference to God, his soul absorbed the radiance of peace, hospitality and compassion. The embrace of simplicity — found in the ordinary — changed St Francis from dwelling on himself to the needs of others. How can we journey in the footsteps of St Francis and shed one selfish attitude or possession? Will we stop gazing in the mirror of self-absorption and lock our sight on defilement of creation, leading to action? In faith, will we venture to tame wolves of mistrust in challenging dialogue?

St Francis, thank you for being our mentor. Pray for us.

Collect Memorial for St Francis: “O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and through joyful charity, come to be united with you…”

CONTACT INFO

Please share with us activities you take to care for creation at your parish and your individual actions.

Please let us know what resources you would like to see on our blog: csmresources.wordpress.com

What could we do to help you live the St Francis pledge? Please contact the Creation Sustainability Ministry, Faith Formation Subcommittee at csmfaithformation@googlegroups.com The St Francis Pledge, as adapted by the Creation Sustainability Ministry, is available on the website as a Word document for use in bulletins and parish resources. Our brochure is also available to download and share with your parish at creationsustainabilitycommittee.org

St Francis robed himself in excess, only to find that lifestyle lacked authenticity. Whether he fought for power or lived in the echelons of the elite, emptiness prevailed. In embracing simplicity, each petal of creation to the marginalized living outside the walls of society’s acceptance, was he able to unravel the door to his soul. Removing the clutter of excess possessions, elitist mentality and indifference to God, his soul absorbed the radiance of peace, hospitality and compassion. The embrace of simplicity — found in the ordinary — changed St Francis from dwelling on himself to the needs of others. How can we journey in the footsteps of St Francis and shed one selfish attitude or possession? Will we stop gazing in the mirror of self-absorption and lock our sight on defilement of creation, leading to action? In faith, will we venture to tame wolves of mistrust in challenging dialogue?

St Francis, thank you for being our mentor. Pray for us.

Collect Memorial for St Francis: “O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and through joyful charity, come to be united with you…”

…We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

First Reading: Isaiah: 50:5-9a

Psalm: 116

Second Reading: James 2:14-18

Gospel: Mark 8:27-35

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: no references

“Pope Benedict XVI has taught that love for widows, orphans, prisoners and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential to the Church as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. (Deus Caritas Est, no. 22). This preferential option for the poor and vulnerable includes all who are marginalized in our nation and beyond – unborn children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and terminally ill and victims of injustice and oppression.” Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States, paragraph 51

Reflection

Contemporary plucking of the beard inflicts insults removed from the sight of individual under attack. Electronic jabs inflict deep chasms of hate, without the perpetrator observing the anguish sustained. Thinking like human beings, life ebbs, as we reject the Divine invitation to walk in the land of the living—in God’s presence. Amidst the chatter, may we open our ears to God’s refrain of life in the paradox of the cross? To lose our life grounded in self-serving superiority and dominance for the sake of the Gospel, we gain a fullness of life. By our humble actions, in faith, we can answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?”, by our works.

Prayer

Jesus, we thank you for asking us, “Who do you say I am?”. For you don’t burden us with presupposed concepts, but allow us to see your compassion for our personal needs. With faith nurtured thru this relationship, help us to reflect that compassion in the world by our actions to sustain peace, charity and justice to all our brothers and sisters.

Individual Reflection: Psalm 116

Visit: www algalita.org

Learn about the impact of plastic on the marine eco systems. Share five things you learn with five friends.

We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world.

First Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7a

Psalm: 146

2nd Reading: James 2:1-5

Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37

James 2: 1-9

“Only the recognition of human dignity can make possible the common and personal growth of everyone…Together with equality in the recognition of the dignity of each person and of every people there must also be an awareness that it will be possible to safeguard and promote human dignity only if this is done as a community, by the whole of humanity…” Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 145

Reflection

Doing God’s work helps make God present in the world. A process not woven in fine threads of individual initiative adorned with golden paths leading to dead end pursuits, but open eyes, ears and hearts actively securing justice for the oppressed. Eyes focused beyond appearance or the hue of skin tone to dwell on circumstances causing people to sit on the floor of humanity, instead of selecting their seat, with dignity, at the table of humanity. Ears hearing beyond grammatical errors, rooted in lack of educational opportunities, or an accent to hear the richness of experiences. Hearts drawn to see that those appearing poor in the world’s perception are treated with equality in economic, social and faith based facets of life. For if we close our eyes, mute our ears and let our hearts petrify to stone, we deny our faith, unity in the Eucharist, the Gospel and miracles of Jesus –the inclusiveness of God’s kingdom.

Prayer

Lord. Let us not make distinctions and judge in subtleties of appearance. For you desire us to open our eyes, ears and heart to the rich streams of faith found in the unpretentious realms of society that the world slights. Thirsting for your kingdom, in our love for You, help us support the just, welcome the stranger and thwart oppression.

Individual Reflection: James 2: 1-5

Do you see partiality in your parish? How might you be a voice for positive change?

Family Reflection: James 2:1

Share dinner and conversation with friends of a different ethnic group

Involvement Opportunity

List one or two upcoming events, action alerts or social justice web sites

By Barb Born September 2012 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters and for discussion groups without copyright concerns.